Stream line return header for tubes



June 28, 1932. B FlSHER 1,865,181

STREAM LINE RETURN HEADER FOR TUBES Filed July 7, 1930 Patented June 28, 1 932 UNITED STATES TEDDY B. FISHER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T UNIVERSAL OIL PRODUCTS PATENT OFFICE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA STREAM LINE RETURN HEADER FOR TUBES Application filed July 7,

This invention relates to improvements in return headers, and refers specifically to the provisionof a stream line return header construction for tube banks which combines qualities of lightness, compactness, comparatively low cost, simplicity of design and operation, flexibility and efficiency.

- The utility, objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and following detail description.

In the drawing, Fi 1 is a fragmentary side elevational View 0% the return header applied to two tubes of a tube bank.

, Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2-'2 of Fig. 3'.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of'Fig. 1.

' v.Fig. i is a bottom plan view of the device 20.

as shown in Fig. 1.

Referrin more in detail to the drawing,

I v1 and 2 des1gnate adjacent tubes which may comprise a portion of a tube bank used-in heating fluids such as the tube sections of steam, boilers, cracking stills and the like. The ends 3 and 4 of the tubes 1 and 2, respectively, may be rolled or otherwise fastened or attached to complementalheader blocks 5 and 6, respectively, having overlapping portions 7 and 8. Each of the overlapping portions 7 and 8 may be provided with registering apertures 9 through which a pin 10 may be adapted to pass. The pin 10 in aper- 8 ture 9 may have a relatively small degree of v 5 freedom of motion in one direction within said aperture, as shown best in Fig. 2.

A cap 11 may be disposed adjacent the comvplemental header blocks 5 and 6 and may be providedwith a stream line U-bend conduit 12 which connects the tubes 1 and 2. At the pointof junction between the cap 11 and each of the headers 5 and 6 said cap may be rounded, as shbwn at 13 in Fig. 2, and is adapted to register with rounded sockets provided in the faces of the headers 5 and 6. It can be readily .seen that in this manner the junctures between the cap 11 and the headers 5 and 6 form substantially a ball and socket ]0iI1t. I

Pairs of links 14 and 15 may be disposed 1930. Serial No. 466,088.

upon each side of the header blocks 5 and 6 and cap 11 and may be loosely pivoted at their ends upon the pin 10. The opposite ends of the links 14 may be pivotally attached to opposite faces of a block 16, whereas ends of the links 15 may be similarly attached to a similar block 17. Blocks 16 and 17 may be threaded internally to receive the opposite threaded ends of screw 18 which may have rigidly mounted intermediate its length a nut 19. The opposite ends of screw 18 may be threaded in opposite directions, for instance, one end may be provided with right-hand threads, whereas the other end may be provided with left-hand threads, th'e arrange- .ment being such that upon rotation of the each other, depending upon the direction of rotation of the screw 18. a 1

One face of each of the blocks 16 may be angularly disposed with respect to the sides of the blocks, and also with respect to the-longitudinal axis of the screw 18. This feature is clearly brought out at in Figs. 1 and2. The faces 20 of each of the blocks 16 and 17 are adapted to be maintained in contact with inclined portions 21 and 22 of the surface of the cap 11, and upon rotation of screw 18 faces 20 of the blocks 16 and 17 are adapted to slide upon the inclined surfaces 21 and 22 of the cap 11. By rotating nut 19 in an appropriate direction blocks 16 and 17 may be brought to- Ward each other, and due to the contact of the inclined surfaces 21 and 22 with the faces 20 of the blocks 16 and 17, respectively, tension will be produced in the links 14 and 15, thereby firmly seating the cap 11 upon each of the header sockets. By suitable design of the length of the links 14 and 15, and by suitably proportioning the blocks 16 and 17, the points of contact between the angularly disposed faces of each of said blocks and the inclined surfaces 21 and 22 may be brought along a line which may coincide with the longitudinal axis of each of the tubes 1 and 2,

erted normal to the ends of the tubes 1 and 2.

It is apparent that herein is provided a full stream line return bend header that may permit the removal of either tube without damage to the other tube; the return bend may be locked in place by manipulating but one screw; the juncture between the cap 11 and headers 5 and 6 takes the form of a ball and socket joint that will stand distortion without leaking and will maintain equal contact and pressures upon each seat. In addition, my device weighs approximately onehalf that of similar return bends heretofore designed and can be manufactured, at substantially one-half the cost of devices of the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stream line return header comprising in combination, removably joined header blocks, adjacent tubes of a tube bank connected to said header blocks, a cap operatively associated with said header blocks and provided with'a U-bend conduit connecting said adjacent tubes, and double swingable adjustable means maintaining said cap in contact with said blocks. I

2. In combination, a return header comprising separable header blocks removably oined, a cap having a U-bend conduit provided therein joining said header blocks, said cap having oppositely inclined surfaces,

blocks slidably disposed with respect to said surfacesand swingably associated with said header blocks, and means for moving said blocks along said surfaces to maintain said cap in operative relation'with respect to said header blocks.

3. A stream line return header comprising in combination, removably joined header blocks, adjacent tubes of a tube bank connected to said header blocks, a cap operatively'associated with said header blocks and provided with a U-bend conduit connecting said adjacent tubes, said cap having oppositely inclined surfaces, blocks slidably disposed with respect to said surfaces, arm

pivotally connected to said blocks, said arms eing swingably associated with said header blocks, and adjustable means connecting said slidable blocks to maintain said cap in operative relation with respect to said header blocks.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

TEDDY B. FISHER. 

